Lighted bathroom cabinet



March 5, 1957 H. H. GOLDEN 2,784,302

LIGHTED BATHROOM CABINET Filed Sefit. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

March 5, 1957 H. H. GOLDEN LIGHTED BATHROOM CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1953 INVENTOR.

HARRY H. GOLDEN 2,783,302 LIGHTED BATHROOM CABINET Harry H. Golden, Chicago, 111:, sssignar of one-half to Sears, Roebuck and ('36., Chicago, 111;, a corporation of New York 7 Application September 22; 1953; serial No.- $1,618

3 Claims. (Cl. 240 -41) My invention relates to bathroom cabinets, and has to do more particularly with a cabinet which" may be economically fabricated from sheet metal or the like and may be quickly and easily installedby a person who is relativery unstained in mediani'eal work.

My invention comprises, as a special feature thereof, a removable lighting unit which includes a housing for a lamp and other electrical parts associated therewith, which unit may be quickly and easily removed from the cabinet to permit ready replacement or repair of any of the electrical parts. Another feature of my invention lies in an indirect lighting arrangement whereby a soft light is thrown out from the cabinet and is also projected within the cabinet.

Various other desirable features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a cabinet embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a removable electrical supporting unit forming a part of my invention,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The illustrated cabinet is an essentially rectangular box-like structure having a back wall 10, top and bottom walls 12, 12', and side walls 15, 15'. The cabinet is preferably fabricated of sheet metal, such as sheet steel, and may for appearance and for sanitary purposes have an enamel coating.

The top, bottom and side walls are preferably extended marginally to provide flanges extending around the four sides of the front thereof, as indicated for example at 18, said flange being of angular cross section, as seen best in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Overlying the front flange 18 is an ornamental face plate 20 which may be of polished chrome finish, so as to provide an attractive ornamental rim or peripheral frame for the entire front of the cabinet. It will be seen that the face plate 20 is likewise of rectangular formation, having a portion 21 which is adapted to lie parallel to the wall in which the cabinet is to be set and a portion 22 which extends rearwardly and perpendicularly from the portion 21 so as to abut against said wall. The portion 21 of the ornamental flange 20 has its free end reversely bent so as to extend into the cabinet, as seen for example at 23, and inwardly of the side, top and bottom walls.

Disposed within the cabinet is a pair of partitions 30, 30', said partitions being preferably in the form of sheet metal plates spaced a relatively short distance from the side walls 15, 15' to form compartments 31, 31'. These plates have integral angular flanges on the marnited States Patent 0 2,784,302 Patented Mar, 5;. 1957 gins thereofll as indicatedfor example at 32,-- whereby they are welded to the back, top and bottont walls-of. the cabinet.

Onthe side of each of the plates 30; 30 opposite the compartments 31:, 31 shelf supporting plates- 35; 35' are attached as by welding. These shelf supporting plates are deformed, toprovide laterallyprojecting. U- shaped flanges:- 37 for supporting horizontal shelves 38, which may be of glass or other suitable material; The partition plates 30, 30' have a series of holes therein; located adjacent the shelf supports 37 and toward'the front of the cabinet, as seen best in Fig. 5,. inorder that light from within thelight compartments at the ends of the cabinet maypass through these apertures 40 and illuminate the shelves 38 and contents thereof.

Secured tothe bottom andtop walls of. the cabinet between the verticalpartitions are U-shaped guideways 43, 43'. A pair of sliding doors 45, 45' aredisposable Within the trackways formedby said Isl-shaped members and between the latter and the front flange, as seen best in Fig. 5. Suitable bearing rollers may be provided below the sliding doors.

Within each of the spaces 31, 31 is disposed a removable lighting unit as illustrated in Fig. 3. This lighting unit is a sheet metal support indicated by the numeral and comprising an elongated U-shaped member 52 constituting an electrical housing, as will be described. Said support is secured by screws 51 to partitions 30, 30'. At the top of each U-member 52 an integnal flange 53 extends forwardly, the latter terminating in a short flange 54 which makes close contact with the inner face of the peripheral flange of the cabinet. Secured to the bottom of member 52 as by welding is a U-shaped strap 55 of sheet metal or the like, open at the back thereof and carrying on its front web an ornamental switch plate 57. A toggle switch S extends through each plate 57 and an electrical outlet socket T for utilities may also be carried by one of the plates.

Secured to the Web of U-member 50 and projecting from the front thereofis a pair of vertically spaced sockets 60 for a fluorescent light L. Mounted on the rear of said web is a transformer T and any other electrical parts needed for the lamps.

The Z-shaped finishing strip of chrome or the like is secured by screws 66 to the front of partitions 30, 30. A panel 68 of translucent glass or the like is retained by the front flange of strip 65 in front of lamps L.

On the rear face of the web of member 50 are carried conductor terminal fixtures 68, 68' and transformer 70 and the necessary conductors (not fully shown), an aperture (not shown) being provided in one of the cabinet Walls for passage of said conductors.

In order to replace or repair one of the lamps or other electrical parts, it is necessary merely to remove the glass panel to have access to chamber 31 or 31'. Then, by removal of screws 51 the unit 50 may be bodily removed from the cabinet and the necessary repair made. Such an operation is simple and rapid.

It will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly attractive cabinet which is neat, attractive and sanitary, inexpensive to fabricate and convenient in use. A soft glow will normally be thrown forward into the room through the translucent panes, while adequate light will also be projected into the cabinet from the side lamps.

Various other embodiments and advantages may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein or uses mentioned, but intend the scope of my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall cabinet comprising an open front container, a planar partition member defining a major rectangular chamber and a minor rectangular chamber, said partition'member having means facing said major chamber for supporting shelves therein, a bracket snugly and removably disposed within said minor chamber, said bracket comprising a vertical U-shaped rearwardly directly channel seated on the bottom of said minor chamber, a U-shaped strap of sheet metal affixed to the opposite sides of the vertical channel at the lower ends thereof and with its forward vertical web fitting closely against the inner face of the front of said container, said web having a seat at the upper end thereof for supporting a light transmissible pane thereon, a flange extending horizontally and forwardly from the top of the front wall of said vertical channel and retaining said pane against the inner face of the front of said container, said bracket and strap serving as a unitary support for a lamp and other electrical elements associated with said lamp.

2. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 having supports for a fluorescent lamp mounted on the front face of the wall of said vertical channel adjacent to said strap and flange, auxiliary electrical units for said lamp mounted on the rear face of the wall of said vertical channel, and an operating switch mounted on the vertical web of said strap.

3. A cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said major rectangular chamber is adapted to be covered by a sliding door movable substantially in the same plane as said pane covering said minor chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,844,050 Wesley et a1. Feb. 9, 1932 1,874,245 Corrigan Aug. 30, 1932 1,997,433 Sakier Apr. 9, 1935 2,070,641 Bartels Feb. 16, 1937 2,381,451 Hrabak Aug. 7, 1945 2,578,096 Smith Dec. 11, 1951 2,609,485 Holley Sept. 2, 1952 2,617,217, Behr Nov. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 423,109 Great Britain Jan. 25, 1935 606,403 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1948 

